Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

What is the clatter?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 30, 2007 | 10:24 PM
  #1  
Ultrasweet's Avatar
Ultrasweet
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: Willis, Texas
Default What is the clatter?

I saw a thread asking about the clatter. I have a faint clattering sound on my new Ultra. Sounds like valve clatter coming from the right side. Is that it? T.
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2007 | 07:43 AM
  #2  
Ultrasweet's Avatar
Ultrasweet
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: Willis, Texas
Default RE: What is the clatter?

It is still quieter than my Kawasaki.
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2007 | 08:19 AM
  #3  
Hagar the Horrible's Avatar
Hagar the Horrible
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,002
Likes: 4
From: toontown
Default RE: What is the clatter?

give it some time, the other Harley rattles will drown out that noise.
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2007 | 08:25 AM
  #4  
radrex's Avatar
radrex
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Default RE: What is the clatter?


I just got back from a 4k mile trip to myrtle beach on my 07 ultra... and it knocks, it clatters and makes various noises (all of which change based on temperature) and I will tell you this - it isa harley - and its suppose to make those noises...

Get some pipes - and turn up the stereo....If you think it makes noise now - wait till it gets 50k miles on it. shake - rattle and roll!! I call it character.
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2007 | 08:48 AM
  #5  
ironoxide's Avatar
ironoxide
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 725
Likes: 1
From: southeast Indiana
Default RE: What is the clatter?

Many believe ( and the numbers are growing) that it's the engine shock loads poorly managed by the newly designed, rushed to market primary compensator sprocket. It's louder when the engine is at running temperature.
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2007 | 08:52 AM
  #6  
jmbear328's Avatar
jmbear328
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,346
Likes: 3
From: Texarkana, TX
Default RE: What is the clatter?

I just installed a set of Rinehart Ture Duals and suddenly all of the little noises are gone,.......LOL


John
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2007 | 09:07 AM
  #7  
SG 1's Avatar
SG 1
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 2
From: Monroe, Louisiana
Default RE: What is the clatter?

Based on where I hear the noise coming from and what I've read here, it's the compensator. Pretty obvious that it is not valve clatter. You'll know the difference if you've got it.
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2007 | 09:24 AM
  #8  
berettag's Avatar
berettag
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 513
Likes: 6
From: Reston, Virginia
Default RE: What is the clatter?

I have similar noises on my 2000 Ultra. I just did a gear driven cam upgrade and added new pipes, so all the sounds are different. We all learn what are engines sound like, like a mother knows her kids voices in a playground. When they sound different it draws our attention. Harley'sjust make noise, and if you have lowers on your bike, it amplifies the sound. Keep an eye on other details, like color of your spark plugs, gas mileage, performance, etc. to let you know if you have a problem.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 31, 2007 | 09:36 AM
  #9  
Hardly Dangerous's Avatar
Hardly Dangerous
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 705
Likes: 3
From:
Default RE: What is the clatter?

ORIGINAL: berettag

I have similar noises on my 2000 Ultra. I just did a gear driven cam upgrade and added new pipes, so all the sounds are different. We all learn what are engines sound like, like a mother knows her kids voices in a playground. When they sound different it draws our attention. Harley'sjust make noise, and if you have lowers on your bike, it amplifies the sound. Keep an eye on other details, like color of your spark plugs, gas mileage, performance, etc. to let you know if you have a problem.
I couldn't have said it better! [sm=exactly.gif]
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2007 | 04:00 PM
  #10  
47Norton's Avatar
47Norton
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 660
Likes: 27
From: Southern Illinois
Default RE: What is the clatter?

With a RK Classic you just pull the windshield. All the noises except the exhaust go away. At 50 and above you can't hear anything unless you turn your head sideways. Then the exhaust sounds really sweet.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:56 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE